HomeGoods Shopping Adventure (And a Giveaway, Too!)

HomeGoods_May11_Review_007

I’ve already mentioned a number of times how much I love HomeGoods, and how I’ve scored some really great deals just because I checked there before heading to other, more expensive stores.

A couple Saturdays back, Cassie and I went to Atlanta to attend a private shopping event at one of the new, sparkling clean, super organized HomeGoods stores. And, um, it was pretty cool. It was cool not only because HomeGoods supplied us with gift cards ($100 for me and $50 for her), but also because it gave me the opportunity to pick up of some of the things I’ve been meaning to get for a while now.

I had a few things in mind to check out at the store, and I managed, with just $100, to get almost all of them. I even had some money left over for some little fun extras.

This summer I am going to completely re-do our living room, so I wanted to pick up a few key items for that room, namely a mirror and a basket for blankets. Both of those items can cost a bundle at other stores (even the supposedly cheaper ones), so I was super excited when I found them.

My new mirror was only $29.99, and it’s pretty beautiful—especially considering that similarly sized mirrors are hard to find for under $80 or so. It’s the perfect size for our mantle, too!

And the new basket is pretty fun, too. I really like that it has a lid. If I’d purchased a similar basket somewhere else, it would’ve cost anywhere from $50-$80. But not at HomeGoods. At HomeGoods it was only $24.99! Shoot yeah!

Cassie got this old timey looking lamp for their bedroom. (Apparently the crystal chandelier-style lamp from college was a little feminine for Hugh the knife fighter.)

I also picked up a new bamboo cutting board for only $12.99. It’s a dream.

And a new bathroom rug, also for only $12.99. It doubles as a saddle blanket for a dog.

And a fun Curious George puzzle.

It makes me feel. . .

And I got a dog toy for the cutest dog on the planet. HomeGoods totes has nice dog (and cat) toys for good prices. Mitch is a fan of his flying pig. The only bad thing about it is that he’s been making “When pigs fly” jokes all day and it’s getting kind of annoying.

And I threw in some cute bowls.

And, finally, some giant pipe cleaners. Our friend’s daughter, Opal, got these for her third birthday a few weeks ago, and I was consumed with jealousy. So take that, Opal. You’re not the only one with giant pipe cleaners!

I know that some people think that HomeGoods is just full of wacky stuff like statues of the Virgin Mary and fuschia gargoyles and all, and it’s true that there’s some weird stuff there. Cassie and I definitely saw a 6’ tall pitchfork carved out of some willow branches or something. But the store is mostly full of great stuff, practical things that normal people actually use. And when you’re searching for something unique or unexpected, HomeGoods can be your place, too. You know, like when you are dressing up as a hippie devil for Halloween or something.

And now to the fun part for you!

HomeGoods is giving away a $100 gift card to one of my lucky readers right here on M Cubed Reviews. So you, too, might have the opportunity to go to your local HomeGoods and get stuff to pimp out your house or spoil your pet (or threaten neighbor kids with your 6’ tall pitchfork).

Here are the official rules for the giveaway, which will run from May 31st - June 10th.

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.

And don’t forget, too, that you can check out the BlogHer Prizes and Promotions page to enter to win even more HomeGoods gift cards. I mean, basically, you’ll be able to buy the whole store!

Best of luck to you!

HomeGoods is So Good!

HomeGoods_May11_Review_007


Do you shop at HomeGoods?  I didn't even know that such a place existed until I moved to Savannah, and Tanya introduced me to it.  I mean, just in case you don't know what it is, it's like the home section of TJMaxx, but it's an entire store of it, and it's a little classier.  So, basically, it's a place where you can get nice, brand-name stuff for a fraction of the price.  And, even though HomeGoods doesn't always have what I'm looking for, I always check there first when I'm looking for something for the house (or for a gift for a friend or a certain hard-to-buy-for mother-in-law, or for stationery, or for enamel-coated colanders in every color of the rainbow, or for Jelly Belly jelly beans.  Why do those stores always have Jelly Bellys? Also, how do you form the plural of Jelly Belly?  Bellys?  Bellies?  Just full of questions today, huh?).

And when I score at HomeGoods, I score big.  I don't think there is a room in our house that doesn't feature some treasure from HomeGoods.  Check out some of my scores from the past.

$12 Henckels chef's knife. 

$13 bathroom rug that kind of looks like subway tiles.

$30 for 600-thread count king-sized sheets.

(They look a lot nicer when the dog hasn’t deposited a mouthful of food onto the bed.)

$22 for a cast-iron enamel coated dutch oven!  Shoot yeah!

And (how could we ever forget?) $25 for the greatest piece of art, ever.

The list goes on and on.  I even had anxiety when we were registering for our wedding because, well, I'm so cheap that I couldn't bear the thought of people paying department store prices for things like sheets and towels and kitchen tools when I knew that many of those same products were at HomeGoods for so much less.

Anyway, all that to tell you about how excited I am because I've been invited (along with some friends) to go to HomeGoods and shop around (with some bonus gift cards) and then tell you about it.  Was there some squealing?  Yes, yes there was.  Has there been some time where I've daydreamed about what lovely decor (or maybe a new All-Clad???) I'll buy during our little visit?  Indeed. 

And it's not just fun for me, either.  You can also go to the BlogHer Prizes and Promotions page and enter to get free gift cards for yourself.  They’re giving away 10 $25 gift cards and all you have to do is click on some stuff.  

AND!  AND!  I'll be giving away a $100 gift card here on M Cubed Reviews in the near future!  HomeGoods has been going bananas opening up new stores, so hopefully you’ll be able to use all of these gift cards at a store near your house (check and see here).  Isn't this fun?

So, keep coming back to check out what's going on. 

Oh, and here are the official rules, and here's where you can become a fan of HomeGoods on Facebook! (You know, for more chances to win free gift cards.  Shoot yeah!)


Do you shop HomeGoods?  And, also, are you completely obsessed with it?

Why a Review Page, You Ask?

Okay, so here's the deal.  I like stuff, and I like to talk about stuff and use stuff and try new stuff.  (Perhaps the first review could be for a thesaurus?)  And, on occasion, I might get the opportunity to sample stuff from different companies and then tell you all about the stuff or the experience.  And I'll do that on this page.

Also, I may have the opportunity to host giveaways on this page.  You know, for gift cards and kittens and whatnot.

To avoid any conflicts of interest, this is an ad-free page, so we're not cashing in from you clicking on it.  (But feel free to spend your days and evenings clicking away on M Cubed.  I won't be upset, I promise.)

And here's what you also need to know.  I am not a liar.

Now, I am often super enthusiastic about things I love (dogs, Target, ice cream, Back in the Day Bakery, Friday Night Lights, etc.), and I can sometimes be a little pushy about getting other people to try the stuff out themselves (because I just know that you will LOVE THEM).  But know this: I will not lie on here.  If I hate something, you'll know it.  If I love something, you'll know it.  If we're a little "eh" about something, you'll know it.

M Cubed don't lie.

Except on the couch.  Asleep.  Dreaming of Coach Taylor and cupcakes.